Chapter 94 : Intimacy (3) Part-1

Rose couldn’t help but burst out laughing, despite the seriousness of the situation, leaving her frozen in that state.

Dahlia and Delphinium wore expressions of confusion, mirroring Rose’s unexpected reaction.

As I gazed at Hayoon and Jo-ah, a sense of uncertainty lingered in the air, making me question if they had been in a disagreement.

Jo-ah’s face was flushed, though she didn’t display any signs of anger.

It was unusual for her to show much emotion, unless she was upset or irritated.

On the other hand, Hayoon wasn’t known for making careless or offensive remarks either.

The tense atmosphere between them added to the mystery of the situation, as I tried to decipher the unspoken dynamics at play.

I scratched my head.

“Let’s talk for a bit.”

No one in the vicinity showed any inclination to intervene in the situation between us, prompting me to guide Hayoon into the relative privacy of the tent.

As we made our way inside, Rose emitted another cheerful chuckle, while Jo-ah’s expression betrayed a mix of emotions that seemed strange to me.

Hayoon, her cheeks now suffused with a deep crimson, followed me into the tent.

Once the door was shut behind us, we settled down, facing each other in silence.

Hayoon, her face a vibrant shade of red, seemed unable to hold my gaze, her embarrassment palpable.

It was evident that she was truly embarrassed and ashamed of exposing such a fragile and humiliating part of herself.

If she knew she would react this way, she regretted disclosing such information in the first instance. But upon reflection, this was not the correct assumption to make.

Recalling the situation, it was difficult to believe that Hayoon deliberately intended to say something like that.

Given the various Korean words with similar pronunciation, perhaps the misunderstanding was due to not hearing her out completely.

Regardless, it was essential for me to seek clarification.

Given Hayoon’s reaction, it didn’t seem like it was just an ordinary word.

“What were you talking about?”

Even as the words left my mouth, a sense of absurdity washed over me.

Up until just recently, the idea of me being caught up in a situation that involved both Hayoon and another person seemed unfathomable.

Though, in all honesty, there had been a few occasions in the past.

But those instances typically revolved around me ensuring that individuals whom Hayoon wished to keep at arm’s length were kept at a distance.

Contrary to popular belief, the magical girls actually have quite positive relationships with Hayoon.

One could even go as far as to say that they are indeed friends.

Naturally, they’re also the ones who could hurt Hayoon the most during conflicts—just like I once did.

“That’s… you see…”

Hayoon hesitated, her words coming out slowly, one at a time, as if each syllable carried a heavy weight that she could hardly bear.

I sat there quietly, my patience worn smooth from countless instances like this one.

This familiar scenario played out once again, as Hayoon struggled to open up about the things that haunted her.

It seemed to always revolve around her family, a burden she carried like a precious secret that weighed her down.

I understood that my role was simply to listen, to be a comforting presence in the face of her troubles.

And so, if all else failed, I would gently lead her away from her worries, offering a small treat to ease the heaviness in her heart.

Here, that wasn’t an option, so I needed to think of another way.

“Someone I like…”

“Someone you like?”

Hayoon’s nod was like a sudden jolt to my system, causing my brain to momentarily halt in its tracks.

Gradually, as the initial shock began to fade away, I found myself mentally reconstructing the words

Hayoon had spoken and analyzing the situation I had just been a witness to.

In an unexpected turn of events, the momentary pause in my thoughts seemed to amplify my clarity of mind.

And as I mulled over everything, a single question emerged: Is this what it all comes down to?

Thinking of the word “like” and Hayoon’s flustered outburst, it started to make a little sense.

It was apparent that Hayoon was not accustomed to dealing with this type of situation.

Now that I think about it, we had never broached the subject matter at hand before.

To be honest, the topic had never come up in our conversations, not even once.

“Someone you like?”

Once again, the words slipped out of my mouth unintentionally.

Could it be that Hayoon has a crush on someone?

It’s within the realm of possibility, I guess.

Considering she is a high school student.

While not every high school girl is in a relationship, it wouldn’t be surprising if someone as likable as Hayoon had a boyfriend.

But then again, maybe that’s not the case after all.

In reality, it does strike me as a bit odd.

Hayoon was a constant presence in my life, whether we were at school or enjoying our time outside of it.

We kept in touch regularly, and I noticed that whenever Hayoon ventured somewhere, she tended to have me by her side unless it was a school-related affair.

As I reflect further, I realize there were numerous occasions when Hayoon was noticeably absent, particularly when she was engrossed in her magical girl duties.

It was during those times that I found myself without her companionship.

The only instance where I came face to face with other magical girls, apart from Hayoon, was when I found myself pursued by that relentless stalker creature.

So, I don’t know what Hayoon’s “federal work” looks like.

Certainly, I have come across bits of it in webtoons, however, these usually only showcase humorous scenes that have been pieced together, rather than providing in-depth portrayals of daily life.

Given the nature of my existence, it is possible that there are variations from the original story.

Therefore, even if Hayoon harbors romantic feelings for someone, it should not be considered unusual—even if they are not in a relationship.

In fact, it would be more peculiar if she did not have such feelings.

While not everyone may experience romance, having a crush is a common and typical occurrence.

But understanding that and feeling jealous are two entirely different things.

I feel jealous when it comes to Hayoon.

At times, I can’t help but feel a sense of despair when I see the immense talent that Hayoon possesses.

However, she is also my beacon of hope in this world.

She is the individual whom I admire above all others.

It is not surprising to imagine that she may be in a relationship or that she would naturally attract the attention of guys.

If she so desired, she could have her pick of anyone to date.

Despite understanding this reality, it doesn’t sit quite right with me.

It is worth noting that Hayoon and I share the same gender.

Even if we weren’t, I don’t think Hayoon would ever see me as a romantic interest.

Over time, our relationship might gradually fade.

If Hayoon starts dating a boyfriend and I keep tagging along wherever they go, that would cause conflict, wouldn’t it?

And I don’t even know what kind of person this guy Hayoon likes is.

But honestly, that’s not why I’m feeling this way.

The real reason is much simpler.

“Do you like someone?”

I asked teasingly.

Hayoon lowered her head deeply, her face flushing red.

She seemed completely serious.

The buzzing in my brain was slowly quieting down.

It hadn’t been loud to begin with, but now it felt like it might stop altogether.

“That…”

Hayoon hesitated again.

I leaned slightly closer to her face, like when I had cornered her against the wall before.

Back then, Hayoon had said she’d do anything she could.

Even though she didn’t know what I might do, she didn’t run away.

And now, here I was, bringing that moment up despite not having done anything back then—what a coward I am.

“Why? Is it hard to say? Can’t you tell me who you like? You already said it in front of everyone earlier.”

What am I even trying to do?

If it’s someone I don’t know, it doesn’t matter to me.

What could I even do about it?

If it’s someone I do know, it still doesn’t matter.

It’s not like I can do anything.

Threaten them to stay away from Hayoon? That would be the worst choice.

No matter what the answer is, I’ll get hurt.

But I couldn’t help myself.

For some reason, I desperately wanted to know.

When I deliberately leaned closer, Hayoon finally flinched and pulled back.

She lifted her head to look at me, her face impossibly red.

“…You.”

It took me a moment to understand her words.

Could the guy’s name be “You”?

Is there even a name like that?

I wasn’t sure.

With so many names in the world and definitions expanding to a galactic scale, anything seemed possible.

Could the person Hayoon likes be an alien?

“It’s you, Jieun…”

Hayoon’s voice was barely a whisper, her face about to explode with embarrassment.

“Me?”

“Yeah.”

“So, the person you like…”

I pointed at myself.

“Is me?”